Snapping back to reality, I stepped aside and went to rest my back against a piece of bark so I could watch my pack members go at it. I wondered how I had made the transition on a few days. I already thought of them as my pack, even though I had made a resolution not too long ago not to belong to one. The irony was not lost on me. Just then, I got a vision of the pack having a lot more members, thinking of how fast word spread and how many more people were being thrown out of their packs every day. I felt a little bit giddy at the thought. Sure, it was a terrible thing to be thrown out of your pack and the family you thought you had, but look at me, the same thing had happened to me, and my chosen family was leagues better than the set I had been packed with initially. We made our way back to our settling grounds that night, and everyone set up camp, making plans for our futures. There were a lot of trees beside us, and with the river, we could construct huts. From nearby towns, we

Over the next few weeks, word spread to the other nearby packs, and my reputation as a warrior grew. There had been an increase in gifts from suitors, and I had reached a point where the influx of gifts were simply being gifted to other people. I had gotten sent some things that we needed from our neighboring pack, and at the same time gotten so many gifts that I did not know what to do with them. That aside, the number of suitors asking for my hand in marriage had doubled, if not quadrupled. They had been accosting me on my way to the river, at night, and even during shifts, approaching me with the promise of a future with them, yet, each time i declined their offers and propositions, fully aware that there was no one for me but my mate. He had rejected me, but holding out for him seemed to be in my best bet. I could not imagine a world where I ended up with someone else, and it made me feel selfish, hurting so many other people for the sake of someone who did not have any regard o

I was sure that many people died, but I had not been there to witness enough of them. It was funny; although none of it was my fault and I was not in control of it, I told myself that Luke was just temporarily away, and sometimes, I found myself looking out for him when the day started to come to an end, wanting to make sure that he was in the pack safe and sound. It was probably quite infuriating, and was probably driving everyone to their wits end, yet they remained gracious to me. Lee especially worked very hard to be kind to me, alongside Kimora. On occasion, I would overhear them talk about how terribly I was taking the news, and although I agreed with them, there was no way in hell I was going to admit it to any of them. “Do you guys think it's okay to talk about Luke as often as I do? Am I doing too much? Overshadowing you in my grief?” I heard myself ask once, worried about the pain that I was potentially causing them. I did not want them to be in any pain whatsoever, and I

In the heart of the wilderness, I, representing my pack, approached the leader of a neighboring pack with a nod of respect. Seeking an alliance, I understood the need for caution in our dealings. It was a decision I had decided upon without input from anyone but the main outcast gang, and now it was time to present my case.The neighboring pack leader was a friend, but he regarded me warily as I walked in his direction, his eyes scrutinizing my intent. They knew about the death of one of our members, and had shown us nothing but support. I wasted no time in explaining our purpose, sharing that recent encounters with rival packs had underscored the necessity of unity and strength. I believed that by forming an alliance, our packs could defend each other, secure territories, and create a safer environment for our kin to flourish.As I approached the clearing, my heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. The leader of the neighboring pack, Dan, stood there, his expre

A week later, after my resolve had softened and I had come to terms with the complexities of my emotions, my newfound peace was unexpectedly disrupted. It was a typical evening, and I was lost in my thoughts, contemplating the events of the day when someone burst into my room with a sense of urgency."Someone is requesting to see you," they said breathlessly.Sighing, I got up from my seat, curiosity mingled with a hint of apprehension. Who could possibly be seeking me out now? As I followed the messenger, my mind raced with possibilities. Had someone from the neighboring pack come to call us to fulfill something from the alliance? Or was it another member of my former pack trying to bring me back?When I finally arrived at the meeting area, I was taken aback to find Margot, one of the members of my former pack, standing there. Seeing her again stirred up a whirlwind of emotions, and for a moment, I found myself speechless."Margot," I said, my voice a mixture of surprise and caution.